Expert voices 'bitter disappointment' at IR35 decision

Date: 12th April 2011

The coaltion's decision not to abolish the controversial IR35 tax legislation is lamentable, according to one expert.

Phillip Ross, a former external director of the PCG, said the decision means the Conservative Party has had its chance and "blown it".

The expert told industry website Shout99.co.uk that both the Tories the Liberal Democrats, have reneged on the private promises made prior to the election.

IR35 should have been abolished with the first 100 days of the coalition coming to power, Mr Ross claimed.

This way, the parties could have demonstrated that they could be trusted to keep their promises.

"The Tories have just had their moment with IR35 and have blown it," he commented.

"At best freelancers hoped for abolition of the tax, expected reform but instead got nothing but tepid words about working more closely together with HMRC. It sounds like a bad joke but the reality dawning on contractors is George Osborne's u-turn on IR35 is one of bitter disappointment."

Posted by Thomas Fletcher